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Tribute to my Readers

8/17/2013

LARGE PROBLEM FLOWERS

There is nothing I appreciate more than those of you who read my blog and post your comments for all to enjoy. I've said it before and I say it again .. "a writer is nothing without readers". Click here for a more in depth treatise of my view on writing.

A little over two years ago I began Kauai To Paris for the sole purpose of having a creative outlet in my life. Little did I know this creative outlet would rapidly become a driving force in my everyday existence .. a platform from which to share many of my deepest thoughts and philosophies in a manner I constantly hope will be meaningful and pleasant for another person. I did not expect the incredible gifts I've received as a result of opening myself to those who read me. Words of praise, admiration, and encouragement are the sustenance of life for one who chooses to bare himself to others. I am truly blessed to have the most wonderful readers on the planet .. "giving" people who lift me up and feed the muse that drives me.

This post is to honor one of you and all of you ... my Readers

Pat Cargill has been on this journey of mine from the beginning.  Pat has been one of you who has given her time and energy to unselfishly leave many positive remarks over the last two years.  As with all the wonderful comments I receive, I have been most appreciative of her support. I certainly could never fully express to any of you how meaningful that simple act of leaving a comment is to me.

Last week I discovered Pat was going into the hospital for heart surgery. That bit of news has been on my mind every minute since she shared it with me. I have never met Pat Cargill in person, but through her writing I feel I know her .. and since I know her, I care about her and her well being. Pat went into the hospital on Thursday .. I don't know anything beyond that. I hope and pray you are doing well, Pat, and anxiously look forward to "seeing you" again in the comments section.   I want you to know that because of your presence in my life I feel an even stronger bond to those who honor me by coming to this site. Your presence has proven to me that we can all experience the entire spectrum of emotion and caring through the written word.

I invite all of you to leave Pat an encouraging word here in the comments section as she recovers from her heart surgery. We all wish you a fast recovery, Pat, and a life of great health & happiness from this point on!

I am reminded that my own problems, which at times feel larger than the flowers above,  become so very small and insignificant when I take the time to compare them with the realities of others ...

In the future, I intend to take the pen from my pocket and record all my problems. I will then begin to record the problems of others ... Stop ! ... even the thought of performing that action brings shame.  Knowing full well I have no significant problems, why would I even perform the exercise to establish that fact? Is it because I need to prove to myself what a kind and empathetic person I am? Or even worse, do I need to prove it to others !?!

Pat Cargill .. Mahalo et Merci for helping me see a bit of truth today. Please Get Well Soon .. we will all be looking forward to having you back. And Merci Beaucoup Pat, for being the catalyst which stimulated my mind to realize empathy is such a powerful and wonderful human emotion .. one that shares the power of the pen in its ability to diminish our own problems when we truly feel and record the pain of others ...

from Kauai to Paris ... and all places between

Aloha et Au revoir,
Bill

LARGE PROBLEM FLOWERS after "EMPATHY"

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SANCTUARY

8/11/2013

12 Comments

Every day of life provides a myriad of varying experiences .. from exhilarati0n of the spirit to deflation of the ego, and every emotion between. Within seconds we can fall from that mountain of elation to feel the sting of despair. This is Life .. c'est la vie.

Recognizing and Accepting the fact there are going to be "ups and downs" along our path seem to be two key elements necessary for us to begin molding each of our lives into a positive state of existence. How we react to outside influences and stimuli surely determines a great portion of who we create .. who that person in the mirror truly IS. Each of us has the power within to shape and mold the person we aspire to be. It is ours to enjoy .. it is ours to destroy.

For our metamorphosis from reactive to proactive beings, we all need a place .. a place where we completely escape the outside influences which attempt to dictate our lives .. a place where silence and beauty provide an environment for all important reflection and contemplation .. a place that allows us the peace and time to connect with our inner guidance systems .. our personal Sanctuary.

My past week was one of those roller coaster rides in life we all experience ... and I needed my Sanctuary. Yesterday I walked the yard, enjoyed the orchids, smelled the aromas, and attempted to work through the rougher parts of the last few days. It wasn't working ... until I happened to come across FRED .. my midnight buddy (click to meet FRED) under one of our papaya trees. He was in a complete state of repose, enjoying the cool, cool earth .. flattened out like an immense wart covered pre-historic creature .. completely oblivious of anything outside himself. He could have been anyplace .. feeling complete peacefulness.

Once again I learn from this simple creature.
Our Sanctuary is anyplace .. close your eyes .. it is there.

My day ended on a high note .. wishing you beautiful music in your Sanctuary ...

from Kauai t0 Paris ... and all places between

Aloha et Au revoir,
Bill

12 Comments

'66 Petrus

8/4/2013

12 Comments

DOUBLE RAINBOW ON KAUAI

Dear Readers .. I write the following as a totally defective human being.  I promise to provide a "light" finish, a bright smile, and joyful recognition we are bonded together in ways beyond our understanding ... symbolically "holding hands" in our ongoing attempt to realize pure happiness for all mankind.

There was a specific period of time in my life which dramatically changed everything.
This period happened somewhere along the personal road and continues to this day. I enjoyed an awakening that was born amidst, and in spite of, accumulated traumas. This awakening was a gift of basic universal truths that presented a guideline for living a new reality. Along with this gift came a new responsibility to always do what I know is right, and an accountability,  with new sets of consequences, should I not listen to the inner voice which guides me.   With the enormity of this great gift I was also given its equal in negativity and despair should I fail to adhere to the principals. My concept of universal truth is, therefore, based partially upon a structure of three factors:

·  Initial knowledge and awakening
·  Personal responsibility to actively seek future growth by following the inner voice
·  Knowing negativity is a result of my own failures

Attempting to follow this path is not easy.   There are many little distractions and so much "stuff" to deal with on our human plane of existence that it is scary to even consider following our inner voice. What happens if we decide to make the ultimate leap of faith into a purely spiritual state of existence? Are we all of a sudden such an aberration in the eyes of others they will refuse to communicate with us? Are we to be labeled the weirdoes and forced to be outcast from the rest of society? Will we look at others with disdain, or suffer intolerance for anyone who isn’t living the way we perceive life is to be lived?   Being a totally defective human being, I suppose if I was attempting to become perfectly spiritual, these questions would be unimportant … but in my present reality those questions and their answers are very important.   As long as the questions remain within me and the fears of being separated from the regular "human family" persist, I guess I’m just not ready to zoom out to that perfect state of existence. This odd progression of thought brings me to a couple of important questions regarding our present reality:

* “How do we adhere to what is right, yet enjoy this  plane of existence as  defective human beings ... knowing we will suffer the consequences of our non-perfect deeds?"

*  "How do we strive for perfection, yet continue to enjoy our human existence and not be completely disconnected from everything around us?"

The singular answer to both questions is obvious.  The answer to both questions is simply “I don’t know” .. and once we accept "I don't know", the clouds part, the lights come on, and we can happily be what we are …

Perfectly Imperfect

What a relief ! I was beginning to fear I might never be able to enjoy another glass of ’66 Petrus. I can now happily accept the negativity and despair of failing to achieve all those lofty spiritual goals as I lean back, swirl the nectar in my mouth, and create the Perfectly Imperfect purple tongue.

Go now ! Create your purple tongue .. and like the rest of us who are Perfectly Imperfect .. smile, lean back, and enjoy the ride - we are all drifting in the same boat ...

from Kauai to Paris ... and all places between

À votre santé!
Bill

12 Comments

Happiness in the Turbulence

8/1/2013

12 Comments

VIEW FROM THE BALCONY IN VERSAILLES

Like millions of people around our planet, I am a product of divorced parents. Like millions of people around our planet, I struggled for years as a result of the traumas associated with that tragic fracturing of family and spirit. I, unlike many people around our planet, got lucky and discovered the beauty of forgiveness. That simple act changed my entire being and elevated my life from the despair of blaming my parents for every negative happening to the elation associated with the belief they love me. I was also blessed with truly empathetic feelings for what they must have suffered. I am a very lucky man.

Once the self pity was dissipated, I became creative. Once the creative urge grasped me firmly and began pulling me towards my innate and unique gifts, I received one last blessing ... positive memories from long ago which had been buried beneath that retched pile of negativity, wrapped neatly in the uber-protective bundle of defense mechanisms we each possess. I had been "protected" .. I had been sequestered from the possibility of further injury. Today I am a free and happy man.

I spent last May in Versailles. The weather was perfect. One beautiful day, as I sat on the balcony of my apartment, I remembered my Mother reading "The Little Train that Could" to me when I was a very young child. The memory was incredibly clear .. even to the point of recalling on which side of the couch I sat as she recited the book in a most theatrical way. If that was the only moment we truly shared in my lifetime .. it was worth a lifetime to me. I regained and claimed that moment for my own.

If you or someone you love is a child of divorce .. please know you are loved. Please know you will find peace. Please know there is ...

Happiness in the Turbulence

from Kauai to Paris ... and all places between

Wishing you love & happiness,
Bill

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Tribute to my Readers

SANCTUARY

'66 Petrus

Happiness in the Turbulence

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